"US commanders admit: we face a Vietnam-style collapse" what do you think?

Question

This is a Guardian artcile about the war in Iraq do you see this happening or not?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/frontpage/story/0,,2023866,00.html

Answer 1

This is bound to happen when the leaders who decided to start the war refuse to listen to their own field commanders, let alone listen to the people's and the whole world's public opinions and sentiment.

Answer 2

Absolutely true, in its entire history America has not beaten a Guerilla army and has failed to learn the lessons of its own military history.

Set piece battles with regular rules of war ...you will not find a more outstanding or meritoriuos army

Korea, Vietnam, Mogahdishu and now Iraq. Fighting an enemy that attacks and then withdraws just as fast cant be dealt with easily by US troops.

Sure they have the firepower , armaments and gear to fight but cant seem to get the upper hand. They destry Iraqis in one place , the iraqis attack somewhere else.

It was the same in Korea and Vietnam.

Eventually the US military will be so busy chasing its tail that it wont know whether to shiiite or go blind.

And that is when the Iraqis will strike, just like the Koreans and the Vietnamese.

I was in Nam and Charles had us everywhich way he could and we still couldnt beat him.

History is repeating.

Answer 3

When we are fighting by the "rules" of civilization within a mostly Urban environment where every accidental civilian death is scrutinized in the media it is difficul to define what a "win" would be. When it is a "Vietnam Style" conflict then it certainly has the potential to be a collapse. The enemy isn't defined by factories and bases and headquarters or even uniforms. There may be 100 innocent civilians standing there and right among them may be a kid with a bomb strapped to him and you would never know.
Let them handle their own internal affairs is what I think.

Answer 4

Without public support you cannot fight a war, you cannot 'win' a war. The Vietnam conflict was a military victory but as public support turned against the war there was no other option but to leave. Look at history, in every conflict the support of the population is essential. In a democratic society a collapse of public support leads to a collapse of political support which leads to military withdrawal. In an autocratic society collapse of public support leads to revolution which leads to overthrow. To win a military conflict you must win the 'propaganda' war.

Answer 5

I won't open links from here....and probably wouldn't put much stock in it, seeing as how it is from the UK anyway.

It is true, though, that we face a Vietnam style outcome of the current war. Vietnam could have been ended quickly had we conducted all out war like with the linebacker and linebacker 2 operations. The problem is that the liberal leftist extremists are keeping the troops from doing their job, just as they did in Vietnam. With their hands tied, no one can expect the troops to do their job effectively.

The saddest thing is that those of us capable of independent though already see whats coming. When the liberal leftist domestic terrorists succeed in keeping the US troops from doing their job, the attacks on US soil will resume. Only then will the gloves come off and the fascists get what they have coming.

As far as mick_001's answer, he sounds like a brit still pissed off that we stomped their butts twice.

Answer 6

Yes we do face a Vietnam-style collapse in the Middle East. And if we let the left who run the Democrat party have their way it will surely happen. They are totally invested in defeat for political reasons. If we loose the war in Iraq it hurts Bush and the Republican party. I really hope America wakes up to this in time. Bush is no more for war for wars sake then anyone who lives here. But just as it is my duty to protect my family from someone who boasts that he will kill me and my family given the chance because we don't believe as he does it is the same responsibility of our government to protect us from this kind of enemy. they don't think like we do they have no concept of freedom of choice and pursuit of happiness as we see it.They think their life will begin after they die and the more infidels they kill on their way out the higher their Allah well hold them in favor. They need to be stopped as soon as possible. I hold the liberals partly to blame for unnecessary deaths by butting in and not letting our soldiers do their job to the best of their ability. How many times have we read stories in left slanted newspapers like the New York Times about how mistreated the detainees are at club gitmo. And yet say hardly anything about the way our soldiers are treated when captured. they are usually beaten to a pulp and beheaded. I am ashamed of some who live here and call themselves Americans. We can't hope to win fighting a politically correct war. Wake up.

Answer 7

Oh yea - like the Guardian is a real reliable source.

Why don't you invest some time in learning about what is really going on in Iraq instead of listening to people who present their political opinions a 'news?'

Answer 8

At this times, war is not a solution to foreign problems. It is actually very very very dangerous because of the advent of nuclear bombs. The US is very arrogant that if their wish is not been granted by a country, they will wage war and destroy it. That's the reason why many countries now would like to build their Nuclear arsenals. Take N. Korea and Iran as an example. Instead of using the brains of how to solve a problem, they always resort to war. I think its time that the US select a good anti-war president.

Answer 9

Every military campaign faces a "Veitnam-style collapse."

So? Its just quoted and misquoted as part of the left-wing media's attempt to make America lose in Iraq.

-Aztec276

Answer 10

The problem is you can't fight terrorists with the military. When Timothy McVeigh bombed that federal building in Oklahoma City we sent police officers not soldiers. This is an unwinnable war because we don't know who the enemy is. Iraq needs to train thousands of police officers to deal with security in their country. Sending more troops is like sending them more targets.